Chapter 120
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The wasteland where we stand—beyond it stretches a scene of countless swords thrust into the ground.
These are the grave markers of those who fell to him and vanished into nothingness. The situation is dire. Our party is completely divided, and if my predictions are correct, he has become even stronger since that time—
I sigh and lower Gram, which I had been pointing at her.
「Sword Saint Eris Gladius—」
I can’t take my eyes off her neck, where I had been pointing my sword just moments ago. Even though visibility isn’t great, it seems unusually pale.
Eris has always been a petite girl, but she used to have a healthy appearance. However, I can’t sense any of her former vitality or cheerfulness from the girl standing before me.
This realization makes my chest tighten.
「Are you eating properly?」
I know it’s not the time to ask such a thing, but before I realize it, I’ve already said it out loud.
Eris gives me a puzzled look in response to my question.
She looks incredibly young. It’s the same expression I saw on her face when we used to work together. While she had her dignified look as a Sword Saint, this age-appropriate childish expression was also part of who she was.
「Oh, um. Food? Ah—are you talking about the meal we just had?」
Struggling to respond, Eris mumbles something. It seems she thought I was asking about the food Ash had just divided among the three of them, which wasn’t my intention at all.
「I heard from Holy Knight Ashley that it was made by Sir Yamada. I’m sorry for the delayed thanks. It was very delicious.」
Eris gives a faint smile.
「Have you seen the others?」
「No, I haven’t seen anyone.」
She shakes her head in response to my question.
「So that means from here on out, it’s just you and me, Sword Saint, who have to clear this place.」
As soon as I say this, she grimaces as if in unbearable pain and lets out a small sound.
Then, as if holding something back, she furrows her brow.
「I’ve fully grasped your strength from our battle with the boss on the second level. Let’s put aside our past grievances for now and work together.」
Eris proposes this to me.
Her virtuous words make me think, 「Oh?」
「Sword Saint, do you know who I am?」
At my words, Eris, sweating profusely as if in pain, puts on a solemn expression, seemingly finding it difficult to answer.
「I’ve heard stories about what kind of person you were.」
I silently listen.
「The Hero and Mika and the others have told me many times.
That you indulged in wine and women as a matter of course, always squandered the rewards divided among the party, hated training and discipline, were a lazy coward, and in the end, you ran away from the party in tears with your tail between your legs.」
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t hurt by such terrible rumors.
「I myself have only met you face to face once—that was the last time we entered the Blade Dungeon.」
My interactions with Eris up to this point have made one thing clear. It’s exactly as Lady Purume said.
The memories that people who should be fairly familiar with me have—are distorted.
「Since we’ve only met once, I don’t really know what kind of person you actually are.」
Has all the time I spent with her back then come to nothing?
—Master!! Where are you going?!
She always followed me.
—I absolutely won’t leave your side!
She was adamant that this was her duty as a disciple.
Although the time I spent with her wasn’t very long, for me, it was a precious time that couldn’t be replaced by anything else.
「However, the one time I saw you, you shamelessly protected only yourself in the rear while leaving the fighting to the Hero and us. From my perspective, you were literally a coward.」
I can understand how Eris feels, if I’m being honest. In her perception, I did such things. To be frank, if there really was such a guy, he’d be better off dead.
Actually, to be honest, that’s what Ryūgūin, Mika, and Angie did. I should have been facing off against Claidheamh Soluis, while Eris was locked in a deadly battle with the Dragon Bone Swordsman.
「Well, I guess I can’t blame you for saying that…」
Why am I quietly accepting such an unreasonable situation, you ask?
Of course, if I could, I’d want to deny everything and set it all right!!
But what should I do? Grab someone who doesn’t remember anything and insist that it wasn’t me who did those things, that it was all Ryūgūin’s doing?
And then, should we just start yelling at each other here, arguing about who did what—
「However,」
Eris interrupts my thoughts.
「I’m confused. No, the current me is able to be confused.」
「About what?」
「I’ve seen not just you, but your party as well. In addition to Holy Knight Ashley, there’s the person you call ‘Sensei.’ I could sense a deep trust among the three of you.」
Eris continues, 「So…」
「I’m not sure if you’re really the person the Hero and others say you are, or if—」
I feel as if hot blood is suddenly flowing through my lead-cold body.
「—the real you is the person I’m seeing now.」
Eris glances briefly at the Holy Sword.
「Between these two options, I don’t have a clear answer as to which one is your true identity.」
Therefore—Eris continues,
「I want to see for myself, once again, who you really are.」
As she says this, I think I catch a glimpse of her former self in her expression.
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I’m not feeling bad.
Although it was only for a short time, I was able to talk with Eris, one way or another.
Even if she doesn’t remember me, and even if our relationship has been shattered once, we might be able to build a trusting relationship again from scratch.
That’s why, now.
We’ve formed an alliance to defeat the boss, and just like last time, we take one step, then another, towards the dwelling of the Sword God.
「—He’s coming.」
The moment I warn Eris—
A man radiating an explosive sword aura that could make an ordinary person faint appears before us.
He draws a sword from its scabbard that looks exactly like my Magic Sword, Gram.
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